Information processing apparatus, medium recording error notification program, and error notification method

ABSTRACT

There is provided an information processing apparatus that includes a CPU board  1  having a processing unit, a control device (CPU  11,  CPU board controller  12,  and the like) that is mounted on the CPU board  1  and includes hardware replacement management area  16  that stores replacement information indicating that the CPU board  1  has been replaced, the replacement information initialized at the time when the information processing apparatus is started or when the CPU board  1  is replaced, a memory  13  that stores error information based on occurrence of an error in the control device, the error information initialized at the time when the information processing apparatus is started, an initialization control section  18  that initializes the information processing apparatus, and a unit control section  45  that includes an error monitoring section  42  that monitors the error information stored in the memory  13  and controls the CPU board  1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of theprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-144250, filed on Jun. 2,2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, anerror notification program, and an error notification method that enableerror notification, when hardware, for which error notification isdisabled due to frequent hardware errors, is replaced (hot replaced)while a system is operated.

BACKGROUND

When an error occurs in hardware, information of the error that occursis stored in a non-volatile memory, such as an SRAM and an NVRAM, or astorage area of a storage device, such as a hard disk. The user knowsoccurrence of a hardware error by referring to stored error information,and uses the information as a guide for parts replacement.

On the other hand, when errors of the same content occur frequently andall of error information is stored in a storage area, problems describedbelow are generated.

Since a large amount of error information is stored in a storage area,shortage of the storage area is apt to be generated.

A storage area becomes full with errors of the same content, and theuser needs to spend time for checking whether or not other errors haveoccurred.

Since many errors are notified, error notification time becomes long andperformance of processing other than error notification is deteriorated.

Therefore, when errors of the same content occur frequently, or insimilar cases, there generally used a function for recording an erroroccurrence history and disabling storing of error information exceedinga certain amount.

On the other hand, some computer systems include a hot replace functionthat enables replacement of some modules of hardware while a system isoperated. The hot replace function is used when hardware, for whicherrors occur frequently, is replaced without stopping a system.

When hardware is replaced, hardware after replacement is hardware, forwhich no error has occurred. Accordingly, when an error occurs for thehardware after replacement, such an error needs to be notified sincethere is need for consideration of replacement again. That is, when ahardware error occurs after hardware is replaced during operation of asystem, such an error needs to be notified.

In general, two types of methods described below are used for notdisabling error notification after hardware replacement.

A first method is a method of enabling error notification by clearinginformation indicating “error notification is disabled” at a timing ofhardware replacement.

When setting for disabling error notification and the like is made insoftware, such as server management software and a service processor,that manages replacement of hardware, a method of clearing informationindicating “error notification is disabled” at the time of hardwarereplacement is used since the user can know a timing of the hardwarereplacement.

A second method is a method of providing an area for managing anoccurrence history of errors in hardware to be replaced.

First, an area that stores the number of times of error occurrences andinformation indicating “error notification is disabled” is provided inhardware to be replaced. When errors occur frequently and the hardwarein a state where “error notification is disabled” is replaced, errornotification after hardware replacement can set to be not disabled,since an area that manages an error history of hardware afterreplacement has information indicating “error notification is notdisabled” as an initial state.

[Patent Document 1]

Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 61-282944

[Patent Document 2]

Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 04-003233

[Patent Document 3]

Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 57-161949

Here, description will be made with respect to problems of the two typesof methods generally used for not disabling error notification afterhardware replacement.

Described below is a problem with respect to the first method that is amethod for clearing information indicating “error notification isdisabled” at a timing of hardware replacement.

Server management software, a service processor, and the like normallymay not access a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and the likeof a system, and may not detect an error that occurs in a CPU, a memory,and the like. On the other hand, firmware, such as a basic input outputsystem (BIOS), can access a CPU, a memory, and the like of a system, andcan detect an error that occurs in a CPU, a memory, and the like.

With respect to an error that is detected by firmware, such as a BIOS,the firmware, such as a BIOS, generally manages disabling of errornotification, and the like.

There is a method, in which, with respect to an error detected byfirmware, such as a BIOS, disabling of error notification and the likeis managed by server management software, a service processor, and thelike, and not by the firmware, such as a BIOS. However, since a numberof errors are notified when errors occur frequently in the inside of asystem, error notification time becomes long and there is generated aproblem, such as performance of processing other than error notificationis deteriorated.

In addition, firmware, such as a BIOS, generally does not requireprocessing for hardware replacement at the time of hardware replacement.Accordingly, the firmware is never called up at the time of hardwarereplacement. That is, for a system, where firmware, such as a BIOS,manages disabling of error notification, there is a need to addprocessing for calling up the firmware, such as a BIOS, at a timing ofhardware replacement in order to clear information indicating “errornotification is disabled” at the time of hardware replacement.

Also, when hardware replacement is carried out during operation of asystem by a general-purpose OS generally used, the OS and an OS drivercarry out replacement processing. In order to call up firmware, such asa BIOS, at a timing of hardware replacement, processing depending on thesystem is required. For example, a register for issuing a firmwareinterrupt needs to be prepared in a chip set, and the firmware needs tobe called up in a manner that the OS driver writes in the chip-setregister at the time of replacement processing.

That is, in a computer system where error notification processing iscarried out by firmware, such as a BIOS, dedicated hardware needs to beprepared and an OS or an OS driver needs to carry out processing thatdepends on a system, in order to clear information indicating “errornotification is disabled” at the time of hardware replacement. Also,there is a problem that, in order to achieve the processing that dependson the system by the OS or the OS driver, the OS or the OS driver needsto be changed for each system.

Described below is a problem with respect to the second method that is amethod of providing an area for managing an occurrence history of errorsin hardware to be replaced.

The area that manages an error occurrence history requires size that islarge to a certain extent. For example, information, such as the numberof times of error occurrences, error occurrence time, and a flagindicating whether an error is disabled or not, needs to be stored ineach part on hardware to be replaced.

However, with respect to a system that is constituted by a combinationof commercially available chip sets, providing the area that manages anerror occurrence history on hardware to be replaced is difficult withoutproviding a dedicated memory area on the hardware to be replaced. Thisis because commercially available chip sets often do not include astorage area of large size.

When a dedicated memory area is provided on hardware to be replaced,there are problems, such as increase in cost of parts, and that partimplementing area becomes large.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninformation processing apparatus including a unit having a processingunit. The information processing apparatus includes a control device, afirst storage device, and a unit control section. The control device ismounted on the unit and includes a replacement information storagesection that stores replacement information indicating that the unit hasbeen replaced, where the replacement information is initialized at thetime when the information processing apparatus is started or when theunit is replaced. The first storage device stores error informationbased on occurrence of an error in the control device, where the errorinformation is initialized at the time when the information processingapparatus is started. The initialization control section initializes theinformation processing apparatus. The unit control section includes anerror monitoring section that monitors error information stored in thestorage device, and controls the unit.

The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attainedby means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out inthe claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of acomputer system according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state before an error occurs accordingto the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state when an error occurs in a CPUboard controller according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a state where a CPU board,in which errors have frequently occurred, is replaced during operationof a computer system according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state after replacement of the CPU boardaccording to the present embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a state when an error occursafter the replacement of the CPU board according to the presentembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing at the timeof start of the computer system or replacement of hardware according tothe present embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing of control firmware whenan error occurs according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of arrangement when the controlfirmware exists on the CPU board according to the present embodiment;and

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of arrangement when an errorhistory management area exists out of the CPU board according to thepresent embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Description will be made with respect to a computer system (informationprocessor) in the present embodiment. In the present invention,description will be made by exemplifying a CPU board (unit) as hardwareto be replaced. In addition, the computer system of the presentembodiment includes at least two of operating and non-operating CPUboards in advance. When an error occurs on the CPU board, energizationof the operating CPU board is turned off and energization of thenon-operating CPU board is turned on. In this manner, replacement of theCPU boards is carried out. The present embodiment can be applied to aform of physically replacing the CPU board (a form of physically takingout a CPU board having an error and physically mounting a new CPU boardin the computer system).

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration diagram of the computer system of thepresent embodiment. A computer system 100 includes a CPU board 1 (unit)having a hot replace function that enables replacement during operationof a system, and a service processor 2 (system control device) thatcontrols the computer system 100 and is a destination of notificationwhen an error occurs.

In addition, the computer system 100 includes an IO controller 3 thatcontrols input and output of data of peripheral equipment. The IOcontroller 3 is connected with a video controller 6 that controlsdisplay of a monitor (not illustrated), a LAN controller 7 that controlscommunication to a network, and a hard disk controller 8 that controlsinput and output of a hard disk 5.

Further, the computer system 100 includes a ROM 4 that is a non-volatilestorage device, and retains control firmware 41, which is a BIOSrelating to entire control of the computer system 100. Moreover, thecomputer system 100 includes the hard disk 5 that retains an OS and OSdriver 51 (hereinafter referred to as the OS/OS driver 51). Also, thehard disk 5 is connected with the hard disk controller 8.

Description will be made with respect to the CPU board 1. The CPU board1 includes a CPU 11 (processing unit) as a control device, and a memory13 as a storage device. Also, the CPU board 1 includes a ROM 14 thatretains initialization firmware 17 as a BIOS for a CPU board. Inaddition, the CPU board 1 includes a CPU board controller 12 thatcontrols input and output of data of the CPU 11, the memory 13, and theROM 14. The CPU board controller 12 is connected to the serviceprocessor 2, the CPU 11, the memory 13, the ROM 14, and the IOcontroller 3.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a CPU board 1A as a CPU board as a replacement.Description of the CPU board 1A is omitted, since configuration ofcontrol devices mounted on the CPU board 1A is same as those of the CPUboard 1.

The memory 13 includes an error history management area 15 for managingan error occurrence history. The CPU board controller 12 includes ahardware replacement management area 16 (replacement information storagesection) that manages whether or not hardware has been changed or not.Here, description will be made with respect to the error historymanagement area 15 and the hardware replacement management area 16.

The error history management area 15 has characteristics describedbelow.

The area records an error history.

The area is initialized by the initialization firmware 17 when thecomputer system 100 is started.

An error occurrence position, the number of times of error occurrences,error occurrence time, and an error notification disabling flag (a flagindicating whether or not error notification is disabled) (disablinginformation) are recorded as an error history in the area by the controlfirmware 41 when an error occurs.

The area is not initialized when replacement is made from the CPU board1 to the CPU board 1A during operation of the computer system 100(information is not changed between before and after hardwarereplacement).

The area requires comparatively large size.

As to a location where the area exists, the location may or may not beon a unit to be replaced (on the CPU board 1).

The hardware replacement management area 16 has characteristicsdescribed below.

The area manages whether or not a CPU board has been replaced.

The area needs to exist on a unit to be replaced (on the CPU boards 1and 1A).

Initialized by the initialization firmware 17 when the computer system100 is started.

Information indicating that an error occurs in the unit is recorded inthe area by the control firmware 41 when an error occurs.

The area is initialized by the initialization firmware 17 when hardwarereplacement is carried out during operation of the computer system 100.

The area requires size of only one bit or larger. For example, aregister area of a chip set is used for the initialization firmware 17.

The control firmware 41 and the initialization firmware 17 performmanagement of disabling of error notification, and the like bycontrolling the error history management area 15 and the hardwarereplacement management area 16.

Next, description will be made with respect to the control firmware 41and the initialization firmware 17.

First, characteristics of the control firmware 41 will be explained asdescribed below.

As to a location where the control firmware 41 exists, the location mayor may not be on a unit to be replaced (on the CPU boards 1 and 1A).

The control firmware 41 functions as a unit control section 45 thatcontrols a system for processing of error notification at the time anerror occurs, and the like. When the unit control section 45 is furthersubdivided, there are functions as an error monitoring section thatmonitors error information stored in the error history management area,an error notification section 43 that notifies error information to theservice processor 2, and an error notification disabling section 44 thatdisables notification of error information to the service processor 2performed by the error notification section 43 when an error occurrencefrequency exceeds a predetermined frequency.

Next, characteristics of the initialization firmware 17 will beexplained as described below.

The initialization firmware 17 initializes hardware when the computersystem 100 is started, and functions as an initialization controlsection 18 that initializes the CPU board 1A as a replacement (to beadded) when the CPU board 1 is replaced.

The initialization firmware 17 needs to exist on hardware to be replaced(on the CPU boards 1 and 1A).

Each of the functions of the unit control section 45, an errormonitoring section 42, the error notification section 43, the errornotification disabling section 44, and the initialization controlsection 18 is achieved in a manner that the above described firmware isexecuted by a processing unit, such as the CPU 11 (that is, softwareresources and hardware resources cooperate with each other).

Next, description will be made with respect to a procedure of replacingthe CPU board 1, on which errors frequently occur, with the CPU board 1Aduring operation of the computer system 100 with reference to FIGS. 2 to6.

First, a state after the computer system 100 is started and before anerror occurs is illustrated in FIG. 2. The error history management area15 and the hardware replacement management area 16 are set as describedbelow by the initialization firmware 17 (the initialization controlsection 18) when the computer system 100 is started.

The error notification disabling flag of the error history managementarea 15=initial value

The hardware replacement management area 16=initial value

Next, FIG. 3 illustrates a state, where error occurs frequently on theCPU board controller 12 on the CPU board 1. Since errors occurfrequently, the error history management area 15 and the hardwarereplacement management area 16 are set as described below by the errornotification section 43 and the error notification disabling section 44of the control firmware 41.

The error notification disabling flag of the error history managementarea 15=“Error disabled”

The hardware replacement management area 16=“Error has occurred”

By the error notification disabling flag of the error history managementarea 15 being set to “Error disabled”, subsequent error notification isdisabled.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state of replacing the CPU board 1, onwhich errors occur frequently, with the CPU board 1A during operation.At the time of hardware replacement, the OS/OS driver 51 copies memoryinformation from the CPU board 1 to be replaced (to be removed) to theCPU board 1A as a replacement (to be added). Therefore, the errorhistory management area 15 existing on a memory has setting describedbelow that is the same as that before hardware replacement.

The error notification disabling flag of the error history managementarea 15=“Error disabled”

On the other hand, the hardware replacement management area 16 is set asdescribed below by the initialization firmware 17 (the initializationcontrol section 18) on the replacement. The initialization firmware 17is started when the CPU board 1A mounted as a replacement is energized.

The hardware replacement management area 16=initial value

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state after hardware replacement. Theerror history management area 15 and the hardware replacement managementarea 16 of the CPU board 1A still have the setting illustrated in FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state where an error occurs after theCPU board 1 is replaced. Since the hardware replacement management area16 has an initial value (“No error has occurred”), the errornotification section 43 of the control firmware 41 determines that theCPU board 1 has been replaced. That is, information retained in thehardware replacement management area 16 has a function also asinformation (replacement information) as to whether or not a unit hasbeen replaced, in addition to as information for determining whether ornot an error occurs.

After the above, the error notification section 43 determining that theCPU board has been replaced releases an error notification disabled flagby initializing the error history management area 15. Also, the errornotification section 43 sets a flag of “Error has occurred” to thehardware replacement management area 16, and notifies an error thatoccurs.

Next, description will be made with respect to methods of disablingerror notification and releasing disabling of error notification byusing the error history management area 15 and the hardware replacementmanagement area 16 with reference to flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8.

First, processing at the time when the computer system 100 is started orat the time of hardware replacement will be described based on FIG. 7.

When the user or the like instructs start of the computer system 100 orhardware replacement (Step S1), the service processor 2 sets a flagindicating which of start of the computer system 100 and start ofhardware replacement is instructed to a position that can be referred toby the initialization firmware 17 (for example, in the inside of the CPUboard controller 12) (Step S2).

Next, the service processor 2 starts the initialization firmware 17, andprocessing of the initialization firmware 17 is started (Step S3).

The initialization firmware 17 refers to the flag set in Step S2 todetermine which of start of the computer system 100 and start of the CPUboard 1 that occurs at the time of replacement takes place (Step S4).

Here, when start of replacement of the CPU board 1 takes place (Step S4,Start of CPU board replacement), the initialization control section 18initializes the hardware replacement management area 16 (Step S9). Inthis manner, initialization of hardware as a replacement is completed(Step S10).

On the other hand, when start of the computer system 100 takes place(Step S4, Start of system), the initialization control section 18initializes the error history management area 15 (Step S5), and theninitializes the hardware replacement management area 16 (Step S6).

After the above, an OS is started (Step S7), and start of the computersystem 100 is completed (Step S8).

Next, description will be made with respect to processing of the controlfirmware 41 when an error occurs after start of the computer system 100based on the flowchart in FIG. 8.

First, when an error occurs (Step S21), the error notification section43 determines whether or not a flag of the hardware replacementmanagement area 16 is that of an initial value (Step S22).

Here, when the flag of the hardware replacement management area 16 isthat of an initial value (Step S22, Yes), the error notification section43 initializes the error history management area 15 (Step S27). Inaddition, the error notification section 43 sets the flag of thehardware replacement management area 16 to a value of “Error hasoccurred” (Step S28). Then, the error notification section 43 updatesthe error history management area 15 by additionally writing informationof an error occurrence position, the number of error occurrences, anderror occurrence time in the error history management area 15 (StepS23).

On the other hand, when the flag of the hardware replacement managementarea 16 is not that of an initial value (that is, a value of “Error hasoccurred”) (Step S22, No), processing of Step S23 is executed withoutchanging the error notification area.

Next, the error monitoring section 42 monitors whether or not errorinformation of the error history management area 15 of the memory 13 isadditionally written to detect occurrence of an error, and issues arequest for executing processing to the error notification disablingsection 44.

The error notification disabling section 44 calculates an erroroccurrence frequency used as an index indicating how many times errorsoccur at the same position in a short period of time, based on the erroroccurrence position, the number of times of error occurrences, and erroroccurrence time described above stored in the error history managementarea 15. Then, the error notification disabling section 44 compares thecalculated error occurrence frequency with a predetermined frequency setin advance to determine whether or not errors occur frequently (StepS24). As to the error occurrence frequency, for example, how many timeserrors have occurred at the occurrence position in a predetermined timeinterval is calculated.

When the error notification disabling section 44 determines that errorsoccur frequently (Step S25, Yes), the error notification disablingsection 44 sets the error notification disabled flag of the errorhistory management area 15 to a value of “Error disabled” (Step S29).

On the other hand, when the error notification disabling section 44determines that errors do not occur frequently (Step S25, No), theprocessing moves to Step S26 as it is.

Next, the error notification section 43 determines whether or not theerror notification disabled flag of the error history management area 15has a value of “Error disabled” (Step S26). Here, when the flag does nothave a value of “Error disabled” (Step S26, No), the error notificationsection 43 notifies error information to the service processor 2 (StepS30), and the processing ends (Step S31). On the other hand, when theflag has a value of “Error disabled” (Step S26, Yes), the processingends as it is (Step S31).

Arrangement examples other than one described above are illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 illustrates an arrangement example where thecontrol firmware 41 exists on a unit to be replaced (on the CPU boards 1and 1A). In addition, FIG. 10 illustrates an arrangement example wherethe error history management area 15 exists outside of the CPU boards 1and 1A which are units to be replaced (in the inside of a memory 13B ona CPU board 1B that is not to be replaced in FIG. 10). In thesearrangement configurations, processing and management similar to thosedescribed above can be carried out.

A first storage device corresponds to a memory or a ROM that is used asthe error history management area 15 in the present embodiment. A secondstorage device corresponds to a ROM that stores the initializationfirmware 17 in the present embodiment. In addition, a third storagedevice corresponds to a ROM that stores the control firmware 41.

According to the present embodiment, when a unit is replaced duringoperation of a system in a general-purpose OS, an OS or an OS driverthat depends on the system does not need to be used in order not todisable notification of an error that occurs in a unit after thereplacement. Therefore, there are advantageous effects, such asreduction in the number of man-hours needed for development of an OS oran OS driver and increase in speed of such development.

A program that executes each of the steps described above in a computerconfiguring a computer system (information processing apparatus) can beprovided as an error notification program. The program described aboveis stored in a recording medium which can be read out by a computer. Inthis manner, the program can be executed by a computer configuring theinformation processing apparatus. Here, the recording medium which canbe read out by a computer described above includes an internal storagedevice implemented internally in a computer such as a ROM and a RAM, aCD-ROM and a flexible disc, a DVD disc, a magneto-optical disc, aportable storage medium such as an IC card, and a database retaining acomputer program, or other computers and a database thereof, and furtheran online transmission medium.

Disabling of error notification and release of disabling can becontrolled based on replacement information retained on a unit.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the inventionand the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, andare to be construed as being without limitation to such specificallyrecited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of suchexamples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority andinferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment(s) of the presentinventions have been described in detail, it should be understood thatthe various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made heretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. An information processing apparatus including a unit having aprocessing unit, comprising: a control device that is mounted on theunit and includes a replacement information storage section that storesreplacement information indicating that the unit has been replaced, thereplacement information initialized at the time when the informationprocessing apparatus is started or when the unit is replaced; a firststorage device that stores error information based on occurrence of anerror in the control device, the error information initialized at thetime when the information processing apparatus is started; aninitialization control section that initializes the informationprocessing apparatus; and a unit control section that includes an errormonitoring section that monitors error information stored in the storagedevice, and controls the unit.
 2. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatusfurther includes a system control device that controls the informationprocessing apparatus, and the unit control section further includes: anerror notification section that notifies the error information to thesystem control device; and an error notification disabling section thatdisables notification of the error information to the system controldevice by the error notification section when an occurrence frequency ofthe error exceeds a predetermined frequency.
 3. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the error informationstored in the first storage device is initialized by the initializationcontrol section when the information processing apparatus is started. 4.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theerror information stored in the first storage device is stored by thesystem control section when an error occurs in the control device. 5.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinformation processing apparatus further includes a second storagedevice that is different from the first storage device, and theprocessing device functions as an initialization control section when aninitialization firmware stored in the second storage device is executed.6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, whereinthe information processing apparatus further includes a third storagedevice that is different from the first storage device and the secondstorage device, and the processing device functions as the unit controlsection when a control firmware stored in the third storage device isexecuted.
 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the third storage device is mounted on the unit.
 8. A mediumthat records an error notification program that controls a computer toexecute error notification when an error occurs in the inside of a unitthat can be replaced even during operation of an information processingapparatus in a manner readable by the computer, the error notificationprogram controlling the computer to execute: initializing replacementinformation retained in a storage device included in the unit andindicating that the unit has been replaced, when the unit is replaced;initializing disabled information indicating that notification of anerror is disabled and setting a predetermined value to the replacementinformation, when the replacement information is initialized and anerror occurs; setting a predetermined value to the disabled informationbased on an error occurrence frequency; and disabling notification of anerror when the predetermined value is set to the disabled information,and notifying an error when the predetermined value is not set to thedisabled information.
 9. The medium that records the error notificationprogram according to claim 8, further controls a computer to executedetermining whether start of the information processing apparatus orstart accompanying replacement of a unit takes place, wherein in theinitialization of the replacement information, the disabled informationis initialized when a result of the determination indicates start of theinformation processing apparatus.
 10. An error notification method ofwhen an error occurs in the inside of a unit that can be replaced evenduring operation of an information processing apparatus, the errornotification method that executes: initializing replacement informationretained in a storage device included in the unit and indicating thatthe unit has been replaced, when the unit is replaced; initializingdisabled information indicating that notification of an error isdisabled and setting a predetermined value to the replacementinformation, when the replacement information is initialized and anerror occurs; setting a predetermined value to the disabled informationbased on an error occurrence frequency; and disabling notification of anerror when the predetermined value is set to the disabled information,and notifying an error when the predetermined value is not set to thedisabled information.